After the Dragon King woke up, his condition improved rapidly. He insisted on getting out of bed and even wanted to hold a banquet to thank Ye Qiu and Sun Shengshou and the others.
“Dragon King, it’s already very late today. How about we invite everyone to dinner another day?” Zhao Yun, worried about the Dragon King’s health, advised.
But the Dragon King wouldn’t listen.
“Tell the chef to prepare some dishes to go with the wine. Also, bring out that thirty-year-old aged wine I’ve been saving. I want to have a good drink with Little Ye and the others.”
“Dragon King, you’ve just been cured of the poison. Drinking now isn’t good for your health,” Zhao Yun advised again.
The Dragon King asked Ye Qiu, “Little Ye, is it okay to have a little drink?”
Ye Qiu smiled and said, “It’s best not to drink too much, but a little should be fine.”
“You hear that? Little Ye said a little is fine. Tonight, I’ll only have one cup,” the Dragon King instructed Zhao Yun, “Go make the arrangements.”
Seeing the Dragon King’s firm attitude, Zhao Yun had no choice but to comply.
Half an hour later.
The food was served.
Everyone ate and drank together.
After a few rounds of drinks.
The Dragon King said, “It’s rare to have everyone here for a meal. I want to take this opportunity to thank Old Sun and the three health doctors. Over the years, if it weren’t for your dedicated care, I, Dragon Qianqiu, wouldn’t be alive today.”
“Dragon King, you’re too kind. Even without us, you would have been fine,” one of the health doctors said.
“Yes, Dragon King, as the saying goes, ‘Good people are blessed by the heavens,’ and that applies to you,” another health doctor chimed in.
“I’ve seen and remembered all your care over the years. I must thank you properly.”
After saying this, the Dragon King gave Zhao Yun a look.
Zhao Yun understood and quickly took out four checks from his pocket, placing them in front of Sun Shengshou and the three health doctors.
Sun Shengshou glanced at the check and his heart skipped a beat.
The amount on the check was fifty million yuan!
“Dragon King, what is this?” Sun Shengshou asked, puzzled.
The other three health doctors also looked at the Dragon King with surprised expressions.
The Dragon King smiled and said, “You’ve worked hard taking care of me all these years! This money is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it.”
“Dragon King, how can we accept this?” Sun Shengshou said, “We are doctors, and it’s our duty to save lives. Taking care of you is what we should do. We can’t accept this money.”
The other three health doctors also refused.
“Dragon King, we really can’t accept this money.”
“You’ve always taken good care of us, and our salaries are already generous. Please take the checks back!”
“If you truly want to thank us, how about inviting us for a drink once you’re fully recovered?”
The Dragon King laughed and said, “Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll definitely invite you for a drink. But you must accept this money.”
“But it’s too much,” one of the health doctors said.
Fifty million yuan—many doctors wouldn’t earn that much in a lifetime.
The Dragon King said, “This amount is nothing compared to my life.”
“But…”
Sun Shengshou still wanted to refuse, but the Dragon King interrupted him, his face stern, “If you refuse again, I’ll get angry.”
Sun Shengshou hesitated for a moment and said, “In that case, I’ll accept it.”
Seeing Sun Shengshou accept, the other three health doctors also silently took the checks.
Seeing this, the Dragon King smiled and said, “That’s more like it.”
Sun Shengshou continued, “Dragon King, to be honest, today we owe it all to Dr. Ye. It was Dr. Ye who saved your life.”
“Little Ye has saved my life more than once. I will thank him properly. Come, let’s drink.”
Zhao Yun advised, “Dragon King, you said you’d only have one cup. You’ve already had two. You can’t drink anymore.”
“Mind your own business,” the Dragon King glared at Zhao Yun and continued drinking.
Suddenly.
Sun Shengshou said to Ye Qiu, “Dr. Ye, do you remember our bet?”
“What bet?” Before Ye Qiu could respond, the Dragon King asked curiously.
Zhao Yun recounted the bet between Ye Qiu and Sun Shengshou.
After hearing it, the Dragon King laughed, “It seems Little Ye won the bet!”
Ye Qiu smiled and said, “It was just a joke between me and Old Sun. It doesn’t count.”
“Dr. Ye, a bet is a bet. Today, your medical skills have truly impressed me. I admit defeat,” Sun Shengshou said, “I said before that if I lost, I would not only treat you to a drink but also become your disciple.”
Ye Qiu didn’t want to take this old man as a disciple and was about to speak when Sun Shengshou suddenly knelt down.
“Master, please accept my bow.”
Thud, thud, thud!
Sun Shengshou quickly kowtowed three times.
Ye Qiu was stunned.
Is this for real?
I haven’t even agreed to take you as a disciple.
The other three health doctors were also dumbfounded.
No one expected Sun Shengshou to be serious.
“Old Sun, please get up. I’m not skilled enough to take you as a disciple,” Ye Qiu reached out to help Sun Shengshou.
But Sun Shengshou knelt on the ground and said, “If you don’t take me as a disciple, I won’t get up.”
Damn, this isn’t becoming a disciple; it’s extortion!
Sun Shengshou continued, “Your medical skills are extraordinary. I admire you greatly. Please don’t mind my age and dullness. I truly want to learn from you.”
Ye Qiu looked troubled.
If a young person wanted to become his disciple, it would be easy to accept or refuse.
But Sun Shengshou was already a renowned doctor. Accepting him would be awkward, given his age. Refusing might hurt his pride.
For a moment, Ye Qiu didn’t know what to do.
At this moment, the Dragon King laughed and said, “Old Sun, just kowtowing isn’t enough to become a disciple. Do you have a gift prepared?”
“I’ve already prepared it.”
Sun Shengshou took out a set of golden needles, handed them to Ye Qiu with both hands, and respectfully said, “Please accept this disciple’s gift.”
This old man really went all out.
Ye Qiu liked the golden needles but knew they were Sun Shengshou’s family heirloom, so he immediately refused.
“Old Sun, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it. Besides, I don’t plan to take any disciples now. If you have any medical questions in the future, feel free to come to me, and we can discuss them together.”
“No, I must become your disciple. Please accept these golden needles,” Sun Shengshou insisted.
“This…”
“Little Ye, I think Old Sun truly wants to be your disciple. You should accept him,” the Dragon King said.
Ye Qiu hesitated for a moment and then said, “Alright, Old Sun, I can accept you as a disciple, but please take back the golden needles.”
“Master, these golden needles will only show their true power in your hands. Please don’t refuse,” Sun Shengshou said, placing the golden needles in Ye Qiu’s hands.
And so, Ye Qiu accepted his first disciple.
The drinking continued.
The banquet ended at three in the morning.
As everyone was leaving, the Dragon King called Ye Qiu aside.
“Little Ye, stay for a moment.”